I ADD my support to Chris Barry’s defence of parish councils (Adver, July 16).

However, I must add a correction; they are not funded from council tax but are funded by the parish setting a precept – based on their proposed expenditure – and COLLECTED by the borough council on their behalf; as is the case with the fire authority and the police.

However, because of certain similarities, the parish councils are often confused to being part of the borough council. They are a legal entity in their own right. It should be noted that many councillors, both parish and borough, are also confused by this.

Thus the money raised locally is spent in the parish. However in a non-parished area this is not generally the case and the local community find themselves vying for the funds since the money is spent at the whim of the local authority.

There are 14 parish councils in Swindon and this will increase next year with a new one in Nythe.

Glyn Harris, Swindon